Featured Co-Location Hosts
Other Popular Server Attributes

What Is It?

Co-location means housing a web server in the facilities of a hosting provider. This NOC (Network Operations Center) provides physical space for the server, where it shares that NOC’s features with other servers in the same location. Also known as a “colo” or “co-lo,” this facility generally allows the server owner to retain full management responsibility for day-to-day hosting while the NOC provides network operations. The host provides a rack space (also known as “cages” or cabinet space) that is rented on a monthly or yearly basis to the server owner.

Who Is it For?

Co-location is designed for server owners who prefer to use the NOC for features that only the NOC can provide. The cost limitations to network set up provide one major reason to co-locate a server, along with the benefits received by the server owner through the features provided by the NOC. Server owners can range from individuals who use the server from home to corporate networks.

Features

The features provided by a co-location service are dependent upon the NOC. At the minimum, the server owner can expect high-speed Internet connection and backup power. Beyond these features, a server owner might look at the NOC features more as benefits that cannot be measured when it comes to cost for these feaures.

For instance, the NOC can provide redundant services that provide reliable uptime, whereas the single server owner may not be able to provide reliable backup for system failure. The NOC could provide better network speed and reliability, better power redundancy through automatic emergency generators and extensive power systems, redundant and improved cooling and climate control, fire detection and suppression, firewalls and other security measures, and the advantage of supplying a team of network and server specialists at the server owner’s beck and call 24/7/265.

Not all benefits are available through an NOC, so it’s to the server owner’s advantage to shop around and to compare costs and services provided. No matter who the server owner chooses for the co-location service, the server owner will realize a significantly lower setup and monthly costs for services, especially if all the services mentioned previously are offered.

Compatibility

Co-location compatibility relies entirely upon the NOC, as the server owner supplies the hardware while the NOC supplies the networking capabilities and safe housing. With that said, the server owner would need to find an NOC that provides compatible service depending upon the type of server used for operations. Many NOC co-location facilities offer cross-platform compatibility.

Web Hosts that Offer Co-Location